F-20 I'm playing soccer in college and I've been struggling with having cdiff and playing through this season. Any tips for me? Really hard to keep up my weight and stay hydrated. Also away games are the worst as I never know when I'll be able to go to the bathroom. My energy level I feel has also taken a hit, but not sure if it's cdiff related. Any help would be much appreciated...

I'm not an athlete but wanted to say sorry you're having a hard time. Are you currently being treated for C Diff? Or have you finished treatment? Not trying to be nosey but I wonder if you should even be playing soccer if you have an active infection. When we are sick our bodies need to rest to help fight the infection. You should get an official welcome from a moderator soon but I wanted to say hi and I'm sorry you have to be here. This is a great place with lots of caring folks who know how hard it is to deal with this awful illness! HUGS!!

You need to be seen by your doc. I am not a doctor, but have been actively aiding my sister who ignored her symptoms and pooped all over her apartment resulting in a bill of $6K for clean up as this strain is a very hardy one. I have researched this disease extensively, and the best you can do is see a doctor that is familiar with this strain of parasite. Left untreated it can kill you, advanced stages (like my sister), can be dangerous to everyone you love and know. It can be treated, don't hesitate, please don't.

STANDARD INTRODUCTION: Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Site History” and “Information and Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) This will guide you in using the site and answer some of your questions. Read Dr. Borody's articles. Also see the topics under “CDI” – particularly Recent CDC Report, C. diff. Bible, Tests, Antibiotics, Hygiene, and Nutrition.“Doctors” lists physicians our posters recommended and also a worldwide list of C. diff. specialists with contact information. (Many perform FMT's.) See the forum “FMT’s and FE’s” or “Media Reports” for new information on C. diff.The majority of patients (about 70%) recover with one to two rounds of Flagyl, vancomycin, or Dificid. An unfortunate small percentage doesn’t and can suffer for months. Most recover unless there are factors such as advanced age or other severe health problems. New treatments include FMT's, which have a high cure rate. Other drugs and treatments are in the pipeline, and there is increased recognition of C. diff. 20l6 will be a year of many advances and HOPE.Help us make others aware of C. difficle – which will lead to further advances in treating and/or preventing the infection. If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them. Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested. For more information, see other support groups including http://www.peggyfoundation.org, Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) Support Group, FMT Discussion, Fecal Transplant Foundation, C Diff Foundation, and the UK Support Site. There is also information on some of the better medical sites like Mayo's, Medscape, and WebMD, and the CDC website. Don't use "Dr. Google" to diagnose yourself.This is a support site not a medical site. We can’t give you medical advice but can tell you what worked for us and offer support. The best protection for you and others is thorough hand washing (soap and water are preferable) and good hygiene by you, those around you, and your health care providers. No one will understand what you are going through except someone who has/had this unpredictable disease. All of our moderators and frequent posters had/have C. diff. (or a loved one with it) and know how physically, emotionally, and financially disabling it is. Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (End of letter.)

Hi Kmoney11 - Welcome to the site, but so sorry you are dealing with c-diff. As Dobies asked, are you currently under a GI doctor's care and being treated? I am not an athlete, but I can say, there is no way that I would have been able to play a sport during active c-diff. So I give you a lot of credit. But, I would make sure that the doctor is ok with you playing. Hydration could really be a factor and if you dehydrate, that can be dangerous. Are you taking probiotics as they can really help in restoring your good gut bacteria? If you want to provide more detail or ask any questions, we are happy to answer and support you however we can. You can find a great deal of information on this board.

Hi Kmoney11, I am so sorry that you’re dealing with C-diff. As the above posters have asked you already, are you currently being treated and under a GI doctor care for C-Diff. I am and for a long time have been an active runner/gym/outdoor activity doer even when I had c-diff but honestly I wish I had rested at the beginning because I didn’t and pushed my limits (stubborn). Maybe it would shorten my recovery period as we are both young so in a way our bodies should be able to bounce back a little faster. But like I said at the beginning I didn’t and it was a struggle but I got to the point that my body kind of died out on me and I had no choice but to rest. Fatigue is and was a big issue while I had C-Diff. I took vitamin B-12 to help me with the energy but it could help you only so much. Having no energy is a way for our body to tell us that something is wrong and we need to slow down, take it easy and take care of it.

Are you taking probiotics like Lisa mentioned? Are you able to eat your normal food (if not and your exercising your harming your body more as your body needs to replenish)? Agnes

I was older - 52- the first time I had C diff but continued to do high level aerobics - Jazzercise. It helped me keep what was left of my sanity. Soccer, however, is a strenuous game (love it - have a professional team in KC - Sporting KC.) Everryone is different. Do what you are capable of doing.

I don't do endurance movements but I was lifting weights (deadlifts, squats, bench, etc...) when I had active c-diff. Granted, I had a mild/moderate version 3-4 bowel movements a day with cramping - my GI had no clue I had c diff cause I looked normal on the outside. I did lose about 5 lbs though.

Energy level I feel fine, its just the needing to poop feeling that stops me from going all out on workouts. Honestly, it's pretty hard to do anything strenuous with c diff and the after effects of it. Like the people said take time with it and if you can't tolerate it just rest, but if the workout helps you take your mind off of c diff and you feel healthier from it then more power to you.

Hi, this is my first post. I am a 44 year old male and I would definitely consider myself an endurance athlete. I used to run roughly 5-15 miles a day and then my wife had a baby in February. I noticed my pace slowing and I had trouble keeping a 7:30/mile pace when this is typically my recovery pace. I just thought it was fatigue associated with having a newborn. Then in June my wife and I both came down with Strep and Severe Conjunctivitis and I was put on amoxicillin at 500mgs 3 times a day. My wife recovered and I didn't so she thankfully dragged me to my PCP since I couldn't even get out of bed. Then I got diagnosed with Lyme's Disease to be followed a few days later with c diff. Now I was taking dioxcycline and flagyl and my gut didn't really know what to do. Granted, I think the last time I took any antibiotics was 10-20 years ago. The only time I go to see my doc is for running injuries and then I am pool/elliptical bound for a while until I heal. I am an avid marathon runner but will run any distance. Every few days when I could not take it anymore I would go run 3-5 miles clocking some of my slowest times ever. I would literally come in the front door and essentially collapse. Now I am down to only c diff and this has been going on for over two months. The second round of flagyl didnt work so I started to take vanco this week. My hours at work are cut to half time (well, per HR they are but I work in HI Tech so it challenging to keep a limited work schedule but that is a whole other problem). Currently I do moderate exercise at an elliptical at home and I might go out for a short jog but I have learned that the only way I am going to get better is if I cut way back on my activities (I would literally go crazy if I did not do something). The hardest thing for me is energy and fatigue (or lack thereof). The fatigue is paralyzing and some days I have the hardest time just getting up and going from the couch to my computer. And on another note (thankfully I found this forum or I would have thought I was a complete anomaly) I didnt experience the diarrhea until I started vanco. I almost did not submit a stool sample because I thought the last thing in the world I had was c diff and it turns out this is the main culprit behind my current debilitating condition. My main question surrounds getting my energy back and being able to return to normalcy. I know every case is different but it's already been two months and the fatigue is nothing I have ever experienced before and I just switched from flagyl to vanco. Any other runners experience similar conditions? I am trying my best to stay positive and on a good note I am down to my marathon weight but it's not the way I want to get there. Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble!

Hi PB&Jelly and Welcome to the site Please read the first thread for all new posters

Sorry you had to find us!! I want to mention this thread started in 2015, for more responses start a New Post so all will see the post and be able to respond.The fatigue can be severe as you will read on this site and often we all must cut down several of our activities, jobs etc as we battle this illness and also in recovery. One thing you mentioned is the diarrhea is worse on Vanco? It should slow down and if it does not I would call your GI on Monday. You want to make sure you do not become dehydrated especially if you have continued any exercise.If you don't have a GI, it's been 2 months and I would ask for a referral. I would make sure you are drinking something with electrolytes.

Your question about fatigue and how long it lasts depends on how long it takes to beat this. Some can take one or two rounds of medication and start recovery. Other's like myself took over 10 months of medication. That's why it's impossible to know how long CDIFF will last or even your recovery period. You DO need to give your body and chance to fight this and also recover from it. Talk with your GI about it

Hopefully the Vanco will kick in and you will be heading towards recovery, feel better soon!

My stool got much looser on vanco as well. I did not tolerate the medication too well. I would do as Nancy said and call your doctor. Maybe they can put you on Dificid. You can also get some blood work to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies that could be contributing to your fatigue. Many of us have had deficiencies in vitamins D,B12, B6, iron, etc. Some have had very low sodium and/or potassium.

Hi NanciT and Beth22! I am taking multivitamins including, b-complex and probiotics VSL#3I and I am drinking a ton of adult electrolytes. Since I never had diarrhea until recently I was getting worried that being constipated was doing more harm by leaving this stuff in my gut longer than expected so I added prunes to my diet which just happened to be the same time I started to take vanco so my wife made a good point of holding off on prunes to see if it is vanco or the prunes that is causing the diarrhea. Every morning is ground hog day since by the evening I start to feel well thinking it is over and then i wake up in the morning with utter lethargy. I used to eat around 4-4.5K calories/day and now my diet is as follows: a muffin, piece of bread with peanut butter (usually twice a day), oatmeal, banana, apple, cliff bar, almond milk with famous amos cookies, lots of Gatorade, diet sprite zero, (recently added prunes), and a protein shake along with water and adult electrolytes. I am going to stop taking prunes to see how it affects me tomorrow. I am sure you can relate to the antibiotics just killing an appetite and nothing looks appetizing anymore. Will talk to my doctor on Monday and thank you so much for your replies! I wish I found this forum earlier because the mental piece was really tough early on and I have never experienced anything remotely like this. I have a whole new outlook on anyone with chronic or debilitating diseases and my heart goes out to everyone that is suffering from this. People see me and they think I am healthy which could be the farthest thing from the truth.

PB, that is a large part of this illness so difficult to deal with, there is a big GUT/EMOTIONAL connection and it is very hard to deal with. Unless someone has walked these shoes, it's difficult to understand. Not only do people not understand how difficult this illness can be, a lot of physicians and medical professionals have no idea. I just took a survey by a researcher and I was so happy he added the emotional part of this illness to his survey because it is a big part and recovery can also be very difficult.

Make sure to all you MD nd YES so NOT eat prunes of you have diarrhea. Most of us eat a bland diet, give the gut time to rest as we push through this.

If you continue to exercise, make sure you get those electrolytes checked. Vanco caused me severe low potassium and I ended up in the ER, it can be a side effect of this drug.

Is your Dr treating you for c.diff only because you tested positive for it?

To diagnose c.diff as a cause of disease a Dr MUST look at your symptoms, if symptoms suggest c.diff the Dr confirms their diagnosis by testing.A test result alone does not mean c.diff is causing a disease because c.diff is often a normal part of a healthy persons gut flora.

Hi Roy, Yes, she is treating me because I tested positive for c diff after having strep and lyme's positive results come back as well. Since there is a lot of crossover in Lyme's and c diff symptoms she had the same concerns but based on how I responded to the antibiotics (and there was a three day lapse) she definitely figured out c diff is the main problem now. Fortunately she caught Lyme's early enough and can tell by the blood work and my current symptoms that c diff is the primary culprit now. Not to mention I have all the textbook symptoms. Plus, I can tell by how my stools look but don't really want to get that graphic.And, agreed, no more prunes!!